You already learned some essential tips on creating a pet-friendly garden - Part 1 . However, there are some more information you may find useful. You are the one that is aware of keeping your pet safe both indoors and outdoors. In other words if you should think of every single aspect – meeting your pet's needs along with making your garden decent and functional is what you should opt for. Otherwise, you will keep worrying about their safety when playing outside. Design your garden in a way that will give you peace of mind so you can simply enjoy the time spent together with your furry friend. In this article we will pay special attention to the plants that should be grown in your garden so your pets can benefit from them and you can be calm they will have fun safely and will be healthy - read on.
- First of all, get used to the fact that having a pet that loves playing in the yard means giving up on perfectionism. Learn to forgive the fact that your dog trampled on the flowers or your cat ate some of them. Try thinking like your pet – if you were her/ him what would you do? What attracts you and what encourages you to make a mess in the garden? If you manage to accommodate your pet`s needs in the garden you will both have good times together.
- Many pets love sunbathing – not only cats love to sunbathe but dogs are fond of it, too. However, this activity may quickly turn into a nightmare if your four-legged one pick the spot in the bed of flowers. How can you avoid this situation? Don`t let your pet choose the spot – provide them with a small deck or few paving stones that will attract the sun therefore your furry friend will love laying there.
- On the other side, you can`t miss to provide a shaded area where your pup or kitten will chill on the hot days. Tall bushes will be perfect for a cool break from playing in the sunny weather. If your garden allows, grow a tree – your pets will love relaxing under them and if you have cats they will love climbing them. Unfortunately, there are not many plants that are resistant to pets urine but when you know them you can plant them and save yourself future hassle of replanting them every week – Japanese Rose, Japanese Spirea, Sword Fern, Wax Myrtle. Your garden will look fresh and your pet can still do this little mischief. If you want to achieve the best results possible you can always rely on professional gardening services.
- You can plant herbs you can use in the kitchen as they are pet-friendly and healthy. Few of them are oregano, basil, parsley, peppermint, rosemary. How they can help your furry friend? Oregano helps digestive problems; basil has great antiviral, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties; parsley is a source of vitamins and antioxidants; peppermint helps soothing upset stomachs and reduces nausea and gas; rosemary is high in calcium, iron and vitamin B6. Of course, it is recommended to consult with your vet as every pet has individual tolerance towards these plants.
- If you want to plant grass with nutritional value plant Dog grass (Spartina Pectinata) and Cat grass (Dactylis Glomerata). They are perfect for a nibble – your pets will love to visit them in the morning. They are good for the digestive system and also act as a purgative when your loved furry friend is not feeling well. Herbs that are good for the skin are thyme, chamomile, calendula and lavender. All of them can be used to keep their coats healthy and prevent irritations.
- Alright, we've mentioned which plants you should have, so now it is time to point out which should be carefully considered before planting as a naughty pet can easily get upset stomach by randomly chewing on them. Watch out for Tulips, Lilies, Tomato plants, Chrysanthemum, Begonia, Daffodil, Gladiolus. Some of the symptoms are the following:
- Begonia – toxic to both cats and dogs; causes intense burning of mouth, oral irritation, vomiting, excessive drooling.
- Gladiolus – the bulb is the most toxic and it can cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, salivation, lethargy.
- Lillies - all kinds of lillies are highly toxic for cat, their leaves and pollens can cause inappetance, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea, halitosis, dehydration, inappropriate urinationor or even death.
- Daffodil – again, bulbs are the most toxic part and can cause low blood pressure, tremors, diarrhea, cardiac arrhythmia.